CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team kept it close early but a three-run sixth was too much to overcome as the Eagles fell 7-1 to Miami Wednesday night. The Eagles (31-16) had a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the fifth but were unable to close the gap further than 2-1 before the Hurricanes (22-25) tallied three in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
 
"We had our chances tonight we just didn't take advantage," said head coach Dave Tollett. "We kept things close and gave ourselves a chance early in this one but things kind of fell off for us late. We'll get back to work and focus on Stetson."
 
The Green and Blue looked to Evan Lumbert (Orlando, Fla./Boone HS/South Florida State) for the second time this season against the Hurricanes. After shutting out the 'Canes in the first meeting of the season, Lumbert allowed just two runs through five innings. The junior threw 120 pitches during his 5.2 innings, but Miami tacked on three runs in the sixth to lead 5-1. FGCU's lone run in the contest came on a bases-loaded walk in the fifth, when the Eagles had a chance to tie the game or take the lead. FGCU, however, would leave the bases loaded.
 
Miami got on the board first in the second. After putting runners at second and third with nobody out, an RBI single put the home team in front 1-0. Lumbert, however, got the next batter looking before forcing a double play ball to end the inning with minimal damage.
 
The Hurricanes then doubled the lead in the third, taking advantage of a walk and an error before a groundout brought in the second run.
 
The Eagles got one run back in the fifth, capitalizing on an error and three-straight walks. Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) drew the third walk in that sequence to pick up the RBI, though back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning with the bases loaded.
 
The 'Canes then plated three runs on three hits in the sixth to lead 5-1. Sebastian Gruszecki (Dudley, Mass./Shepherd Hill Regional HS) entered with two outs and closed out the inning.

Miami tacked on two more in the seventh to extend the lead to 7-1 before Alex Brait (Viera, Fla./Viera HS) singled to right to lead off the FGCU eighth. A double play neutralized the single, sending the game into the ninth where Tyler Shuck (Cape Coral, Fla./Canterbury HS) produced the third FGCU hit, putting two on with two out in the inning. Neither would come around to score as the game came to a close with a groundout.
 
Lumbert (6-3) was hit with the loss. The junior tossed 5.2 innings allowing four earned, five total, on six hits. Gruszecki worked 0.2 inning, conceding two runs on two hits while Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Viera HS/Eastern Florida State College) worked the next 1.1 innings, surrendering two hits. Christian Townsend (Safety Harbor, Fla./Countryside HS) tallied the final out of the eighth.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU has a chance to get back in the top half of the ASUN standings this weekend when conference-leaders Stetson come to Fort Myers. The Eagles and Hatters kickoff the final home weekend of the season Friday at 6:30 p.m.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.
 
DAVE TOLLETT
In his 16th season, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 564-329-3 record (.626) as the only head coach in the program's history and is coming off the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. He is a four-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four ASUN Regular Season Championships and one ASUN Tournament Championship. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions, including as high as #9 in the country in 2017, and has coached 49 All-Conference selections, 29 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 15 current minor leaguers, four ASUN Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, three ASUN Players of the Year, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one five-time MLB All-Star.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.